The day to day itineraries described below are a sample of typical cruises on the Hirondelle. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change, there may be fewer or more excursions, the places visited may vary depending on the season and the passenger preferences. Because there are a limited number of passengers on any of our vessels the guide can tailor the itinerary in accordance with the passengers’ wishes. Cruises are run in reverse on alternate weeks.

Sunday, Day 1 - Paris to Dijon.
Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Lyon via the TGV train will arrive in the afternoon at the Dijon train station where you will be met by the Hirondelle guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven a short distance by mini-van to where the barge is moored in Dijon’s Port du Canal, an old commercial dock area, now refurbished for pleasure craft and a short distance from the town center, where you will board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy and Franche Comté. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard. Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger’s wishes).

Monday, Day 2 - Cruise to Longecourt. Visit Clos de Vougeot.
While the barge cruises the Canal de Bourgogne across the flat plain from Dijon to the River Saône, your guide will take you to visit ‘Clos de Vougeot’, a medieval abbey surrounded by 12 century vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers de Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d’Or vintages. If you prefer to stay on board and enjoy the passing scenery, pay attention to the lock keepers’ gardens and, by all means, make sure you don’t trespass by foot or by bicycle – a definite “faux pax”. The French government sponsors competitions for the best garden on the canal, thus the lock keepers take great pride in tending to their flowers.

Tuesday, Day 3 – Cruise to St. Jean de Losne. Visit Dijon.
After breakfast, your guide will take you on a walking tour of Dijon, past the elegant houses, visit the Ducal Palace, the market and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. Back to the boat for a scrumptious lunch and the afternoon’s cruise.

Wednesday, Day 4 – Cruise to Dole. Visit Beaune & Dole.
You will want to enjoy the lovely countryside of the Franche Comté cruising to the town of Dole. After breakfast, your guide will escort you on a walking tour of Beaune, the capital of Burgundy to visit the famous Hotel Dieu, Hospice de Beanue. After lunch walk around the town of Dole including a tour of the magnificent cathedral and La Maison Pasteur, home of Louis Pasteur

Thursday, Day 5 – Cruise to Osselle or Thoraize. Visit Grottes d’Oselle and the Arbois.
This morning we cruise through spectacular scenery along the edge of the forest of Chaux to arrive in Ranchot. The river meanders between the steep, forested hillsides past a number of hamlets and villages. In places, artificial canal sections were dug when the Doubs was rendered navigable early in the nineteenth century to cut out the bends in the natural riverbed. We moor in one of these canal sections in the village of Osselle. We will visit the Grottes d’Oselle, vast underground caverns renowned for their unusual rock formations deemed to be some of the most interesting in Europe. After lunch, visit the Arbois, the principal town of the Jura wine producing region and a wine tasting of the region’s famous vin jaune.

Friday, Day 6 - Cruise to Besançon. Visit Besançon.
Your final day of cruising takes you to Besançon, with cruising alternating between canal and river, passing through two tunnels before arriving in Besançon, capital of the Franche-Comté, in the afternoon. You will moor directly below the King’s tower which forms part of the defensive rampart of the town’s magnificent citadel. A walk of the citadel, designed in the seventeenth century by Vauban, military architect to Louis XIV, and its museums is scheduled for the afternoon. Back on board the chef is preparing a memorable feast for your farewell dinner. Bon appetit.

Saturday, Day 7 - Disembark the Hirondelle.
After breakfast you will disembark the barge and all board the van for the drive to the Besançon rail station and your return to Paris on the TGV (Train Grande Vitesse)

Escommes to Dijon, cruising on the Burgundy Canal

Sunday, Day 1- Paris to Dijon
Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Lyon on the TGV train will arrive at approximately 16:15 at the Dijon train station where you will be met by our guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van to Escommes, a delightful mooring on the Canal de Bourgogne, where you will board the barge for your cruise through Burgundy. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard. Time permitting the barge gangplank is raised and you can enjoy your first experience of navigating a lock and cruising the Canal de Bourgogne.
Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger’s wishes).

Monday, Day 2 - Cruise Escommes to Crugey. Visit Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
Escommes is very near the watershed at Pouilly-en-Auxois, where there is a tunnel through which the barges must pass to reach Upper Burgundy. This is also the point of the “partager des eaux”, literally, “to divide the waters”, where on one side the water flows to the Seine and on the other, to the Saône. The canal meanders in a southeasterly direction paralleling the river Ouche. Small-unspoiled villages and green forested hills provide the traveler with exceptional views from the deck. Today you will visit the village of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois and its château, which has an interesting history. The château is visible on the hillside as you cruise through several locks between Escommes and tonight’s mooring at Crugey, a small village from which you may safely bicycle or stroll around. Also, a tennis court is never far away. Just ask your guide for directions.

Tuesday, Day 3 – Cruise from Crugey to Veuvey. Visit Dijon.
After breakfast, your guide will take you on a walking tour of Dijon, past the elegant houses, visit the Ducal Palace, the market and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. Back to the boat for a scrumptious lunch and the afternoon’s cruise. While enjoying the passing scenery pay attention to the lock keepers’ gardens and, by all means, make sure you don’t trespass thereupon, by foot or by bicycle - a definite “faux pas”. The French government sponsors competitions for the best garden on the canal, thus the lock keepers take great pride in tending to their flowers. After lunch, tour of the 700 year old Benedictine Abbey in La Bussière. A stroll through the grounds will make the hustle and bustle of Paris seem like a million kilometers away.

Wednesday, Day 4 - Cruise Veuvey to St. Victor. Visit Château de Commarin.
Today’s excursion is a visit to the Château de Commarin, an interesting castle from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its celebrated tapestries with the coat of arms of the Vienne family take the place of a family tree. Decoration and lavish furnishings have been intact for over 200 years since Marie-Judith de Vienne (1700-1780). Back onboard for lunch and then a tour of a snail farm with degustation is on the agenda for the afternoon. The boat will continue its descent through the Vallée of the Ouche to St. Victor.

Thursday, Day 5 – Cruise St. Victor to Fleury-sur-Ouche. Visit Beaune, the Domaine Prieur-Brunet and Meursault
Today your excursion is a visit of the Côte d’Or, literally “Slope of Gold”. This is the name given to the strip of land running south of Dijon, which is planted with vines and produces some of the world’s most famous wines. You will see the charming villages and will visit some of the finest wine producers in France. You will have the opportunity to see a family run winery and to sample wines that may never reach your corner of the world. After another delicious lunch your guide will escort you to Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, and a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune. The canal continues its meandering and you will moor in another canal-side village, Fleury-sur-Ouche.

Friday, Day 6 - Cruise to Dijon. Visit Clos de Vougeot
This afternoon’s excursion is a dégustation in Chambolle Musigny and a visit the Clos de Vougeot, a medieval abbey surrounded by 12th century vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d’Or vintages. The barge will moor for the night in Dijon’s Port du Canal, an old commercial dock area now refurbished for pleasure craft and a short distance from the town center. Meanwhile the chef is preparing a gala dinner for your last evening on board.

Saturday, Day 7 - Disembark. Transfer to Paris
After breakfast you will disembark the barge and all aboard the van for the last time for the drive to the Dijon train station and your return to Paris on the TGV, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon approximately 11:00 where you will be met by our representative who will assist you with your bags.

St Jean de Losne to Escommes, on the Burgundy Canal

The day to day itinerary described below is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and guest preferences.

Sunday
A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. A late afternoon cocktail cruise on the river Saône will prepare your palate for your first dinner on board.

Monday - Cruise to Dijon. Visit Clos de Vougeot
This morning, enjoy your first cruise on the Canal de Bourgogne followed by a visit to "Clos de Vougeot", a medieval château surrounded by 12th century vineyards. This is the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, whose special label is awarded annually to the finest Côte d'Or vintages. Then stop off for a wine tasting in the village. The barge moors for the night in Dijon port.

Tuesday - Cruise to Fleurey. Visit Dijon
After breakfast, your guide takes you on a walking tour of Dijon to visit the local market, where you have a chance to buy some local produce for lunch. Visit the Ducal Palace, the market, and the Grey Poupon mustard shop. Return to the boat for lunch and the afternoon's cruise. Enjoy the passing scenery paying particular attention to the beautiful lock keepers' gardens.

Wednesday - Cruise to La Bussière. Visit Beaune.
Mid-morning, your guide takes on a tour of a snail farm followed by a "dégustation". Then continue onto l'Abbaye de la Bussière, built in the 12th century under the guidance of the Cistercian monks from Cluny. Today, you have the option to take lunch off the barge if you wish. This afternoon, your guide escorts you to Beaune, capital of the wine region of Burgundy, and a visit to the famous Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune.

Thursday - Cruise to La Rèpe. Visit the Château de Commarin.
Relax onboard and enjoy a leisurely cruise through the lovely Ouche Valley. After lunch visit the Château de Commarin, an interesting castle from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its celebrated tapestries, with the coat of arms of the Vienne family, take the place of a family tree. On your way back to the barge make a brief stop at the hilltop village of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois.

Friday - Cruise to Escommes. Visit l'Abbaye de Fontenay.
Cruise through several more locks until reaching your final destination of Escommes. Today, you take a very scenic drive to l'Abbaye de Fontenay, one of the oldest Cistercian monasteries in Europe. Meanwhile the chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.

Saturday
After breakfast disembark and transfer to the Dijon rail station. We hope you had a most pleasant time aboard and we welcome the opportunity to have you cruise with the Hirondelle again. Au revoir.

You will be taken by the barges staff to Dijon Station to board the TGV Train for Paris.